Double-deck car.



PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. J. ROSS, DEGD.

DFG. Ross. ADMINISTRATOR,

DUBLB DECK GAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. 1907.

N 896 466. PATENTED AUG.18 1908. 'o 1 .J. Ross,DBcD.

D. 0. ROSS, ADMINISTRATOR. DUUBLE DEGK GAR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1907. 2 SHEB`TS SHEBT 2' UNITED sTATEs PATENToEEioE.

PETER J. ROSS, OF TREVOR, WISCONSIN; DONALD C. ROSS ADMINISTRATOR OFSAID PETER J. ROSS, DEOEASED.

DOUBLE-DECK CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

- Application filed November 7, 1907. Serial No. 401,049.

T o all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. Ross, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Trevor, county of Kenosha, and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Double-Deck Cars, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to cattle cars and particularly to that classthereof known as double decked cars.

The object of my invention is to provide a cattle car having a seconddeck which may be raised to transform the car into a single decked car.

A further object is to provide means for operating the second deck bypressure obtained from the train pipes when the car is coupled to alocomotive, and other means for operating the deck when the car isdetached from the locomotive.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists generally in a cattlecar of the usual construction and equipped with the usual train pipes,in combination with a movable second deck, means for supporting the deckat substantially midway of the height of the car, a plurality of aircylinders connected with the train pipes and having their pistonsconnected to the underframe of the second deck and a plurality of cablesfor raising and lowering said deck independently of the cylinders.

My invention further consists in certain means for holding the deck inraised position and in various details of construction and arrangementsof parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a car embodying my invention in itspreferred form, Fig. 2

is a section on the line of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is4 a transverse crosssection of the car upon an enlarged scale, and Figs. 4 and 5, aredetails of the device employed for maintaining the deck inI raisedposition and the means for operating the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a cattle car having the usualfloor or lower deck, 2, the roof, 3, the slatted sides, 4, and

the side frames, 5. The movable second deck comprises the floor, 6 laidupon the transverse members, 7 which are in turn supported by a pair ofI-beams extending longitudinally of the car throughout the length of thedeck. When the deck is lowered into position for use the I beams, 8,rest upon the longitudinal members, 9 which are securely bolted to theside frames, 5.

To raise or lower the second deck when the car is coupled to alocomotive I provide the following means: This consists in a pluralityof vertically disposed compressed air cylinders, 10 arranged atintervals along the side of the car and having their pistons, 11 securedto the I beams, 8. The cylinders, 10 are connected by pipes, 12 to acommon pipe, 13 which is in turn connected to the compressed air pipe,14 of the train by a pipe, 15. 16 indicates a three-way valve arrangedin the pipe, 15 and by means of which compressed air from the trainpipe, 14 may be admitted to the system of air cylinders, 10 or exhaustedfrom said system.

When a car is thrown on to a siding and disconnected from the locomotiveit is obvious that the cylinders, 10 will be inoperative, hence it isnecessary to provide auxiliary means for raising and lowering the deck,as it may frequently happen that the deck will be left in the wrongposition. Secured to each end of the deck are a plurality of cables, 17having their ends secured to a drum, 18 mounted upon the shaft, 19extending transversely of the car close beneath the roof, 3. Upon theend of the shaft, 19 is a sprocket wheel, 20 connected by a chain, 21 toa similar Wheel, 22, to which is secured a crank, 23. It is obvious thatby turning the cranks, 23, the deck may be raised or lowered at will.

To hold the second deck in raised position when it is desired to use thecar as a single decker, I provide a plurality of plates pivotallymounted between the side frame members, 5, upon which the I beams, 8 mayrest, and provide means for retracting said plates simultaneously beforebeginning to lower the deck. 24 indicate the plates, pivotally mountedupon the rods, 25. The plates 24 are each provided with lan upwardly andinwardly inclined flange, 26, which normally projects into the pathwayof the deck when being raised. As the deck raises it pushes the iiange,26 out of its path, but as soon as it is passed above the edge of saidflange, the plate and flange return to normal position and into positionto Support the deck. 27 indicates ra strengthening plate riveted to theplate, 24, and flange, 26 and which also constitutes a weight forreturning the flange to normal position. 28 indivcates a rod connectedat one end to the plate,

the crank, 33, to withdraw them from be` neath the deck. To preventaccidental displacement of the supporting plates, I provide a'latch, 34,which enters anotch, 35, in a disk, 36, fixed to the shaft, 32.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A cattle car of the usual construction and equipped with the usualtrain pipes, in combination with a movable vsecond deck, means operableby the air system of the train when coupled to a locomotive for raisingand lowering said deck, a plurality of pivoted plates adapted tomaintain said deck in raised position and means adapted to retract saidplates simultaneously, said means comprising bell crank levers arrangedat the top of said car above each of said plates, and connected theretoby a rod, a shaft arranged longitudinally of the car, short armed leverssecured to said shaft and connected by a rod to said bell crank leversand a crank on the end of'said shaft, substantially as described.

2. A cattle car of the usual construction and equipped with the usualtrain pipes, in combination witha'movable second deck, means for raisingand lowering said deck, a plurality of pivoted members adapted toautomatically lock said deck in raised positi-on, a bell crank leverarranged above each of said members, a rod connecting each of saidleverswith its respective pivoted member, a longitudinal shaft arrangedin said car, short armed levers fixed to said shaft, rods connectingsaid levers with said bell crank levers, a crank on the end of saidshaft, a notched disk on said shaft and means for engaging said notchesto lock said members against accidental displacement, .substantially asdescribed.

3. A cattle car of the usual construction, in combination with a movablesecond deck, means for raising and lowering said deck, a plurality ofpivoted members adapted to automaticallylock said deck in raisedposition, a longitudinally disposed shaft arranged in said car, meansfor turning said shaft, means connecting said shaft with each of saidpivoted members whereby rotation of said shaft will retract said.members simultaneously, and means for locking said shaft againstrotation to prevent accidental displacement of said members,substantially as described.

4. A cattle car'of the usual construction and equipped with the usualtrain pipes, in combination with a movable second deck, means operableby the compressed air from said train pipe for raising and lowering saiddeck, a plurality of members adapted to automatically lock said deck inraised position and each comprising a plate pivotally mounted near thetop of the car and having an upwardly and inwardly inclined flangenormally projecting into the pathway of the deck when being raised meansfor retracting said members simultaneously and means for locking saidmembers against accidental retraction, substantiallyv as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

y, PETER J. Ross Witnesses:

GEORGE W. FAULKNEE, JOSEPH SMITH.

